Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl yells to his team during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Written by

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser

Bruce Pearl is returning to college basketball's coaching ranks, hired to take over the woeful Auburn basketball program on Tuesday despite his NCAA show-cause penalty still being in place until Aug. 23.

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs announced the hiring of Pearl, the former Tennessee coach who led the Volunteers to six straight NCAA Tournament appearances and invigorated a previously single-minded football centric fan base with his bombastic personality. ...